Whipping roller coaster



NOV. 8, 1938'; A PFAU v WHIPPING ROLLER COASTER Filed Oct. 17. 1936 ww/s/v 727 ANTON PF-A U TERA/E3 Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Anton Pfau, Portland, Oreg. Application October 17, 1936, Serial No. 106,146

1 Claim.

Experience has shown that roller coasters, the rear wheel supports of which are secured against movement, are subject to being upset and overturned when the user thereof makes a sharp turn while traveling at a reasonable rate of speed. Furthermore, roller coasters embodying the presently known principles of construction have limited maneuverability and require considerable space for making a complete turn. It is within the contemplation of my invention to provide a coaster which eliminates the foregoing objections.

By incorporating the construction embodying the principles of my invention, it is possible to use the coaster not only as a means of coasting down steep grades, but also for the purpose of whipping the rear of the coaster by a suddenv turn of the steering mechanism, thus providing an added thrill to the user of a coaster embodying my invention. It is obvious that the extent of the are which the rear of the coaster will make in its whipping movement is directly proportional to the speed of the coaster and the degree of the turn made by the front end of the coaster. Experience has indicated that it is possible to make several loops with a coaster embodying the principles of my invention without upsetting the coaster during its travels. Furthermore, less space is needed in turning a coaster embodying my invention.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a roller coaster possessing increased maneuverability.

' Another object of my invention is to provide a roller coaster which possesses characteristics that insure against its being upset or overturned when the user thereof makes a sharp turn while traveling at great speed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a roller coaster having a low center of gravity.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roller coaster, the front axle of which is braced to insure against shimmying of the steering mechanism, while at the same time, providing a resilient assembly for the steering mechanism of the coaster. 0

Another object of the invention is to provide a coaster which is simple and durable in construction, which is inexpensive to manufacture and to maintain and which is attractive in appearance.

The invention is directed to other objects and possesses other features of advantage, a full understanding of which will become readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawing which illustrates the preferred form of embodiment by which the invention may be realized, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a roller coaster embodying the principles of my invention. Figure 2 is a sectional, front View of the coaster 5 shown in Figure l, graphically pointing out the details of construction of the steering mechanism.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated, showing the manner in which the wheel and axle 1o supports are joined. I

Figure 4 is a sectional, side view, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated, which also shows the details of construction of the front end of the coaster embodying the principles of my invention.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary, plan view, taken on line 5-5 of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated, showing the bracing members for the front axle assembly.

Figure 6 is an end view, taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated, showing the manner in which the braking members are retained against the side of the coaster embodying the principles of my invention.

Figure '1 is a side view of one of'the rear wheels embodying the principles of my invention.

Like reference characters are employed to indicate like parts in the several views shown in the accompanying drawing.

An inspection of Figure 1 discloses a roller coaster having a top II], which may be made of any desirable material and of any desirable dimensions. A front axle I2 has a pair of wheels II journaled thereto. An axle brace, having arms I3, I 3A and I1 and top I4 is made of one piece of material as will be seen in Figure 5. This brace may be made of any material, but preference is given to a material which has some resiliency. Arms I3 and I3A are disposed in opposite relation to each .other, and arm I1 is disposed at right angles to arms I3 and I3A. In Figure 2, it will be seen that arms I3 and HA extend downwardly from the center portion I4, and each have a down turned portion I5 which are secured in any desirable manner to axle I2. Arm I'l incorporates a sharp bend IIA, as shown in Figure 4, and is also secured to axle I2 in any desirable manner. 50

In order to add greater stability to the front axle and in order to offer a bearing surface to r the wheels I I, another brace member I8 is transat each end thereof upturned portions I9 which 55 are secured to the axle in any desirable manner. In order to prevent any friction between down turned portions I5 and upturned portions I9 and to provide a stable yet resilient front axle assembly, the upturned portions I9 are clinched against the upturned portion l5, as shown at 20 in Figures 3 and 4. By this construction, the front axle is braced against any transverse or rearward thrusts while, at the same time, there is provided the necessary resiliency for the front axle assembly.

A wearing washer 25 is secured in any desirable manner to the underside of the top I and is adapted to contact the center portion I4 of the bracing member. Elongated openings I 6 are registerably disposed through the center portion I4 of the bracing member, the washer and the front end of top I 0, as shown in Figure 4. A steering arm 2| also has an elongated opening therethrough which coincides with elongated openings I6, when the steering arm 2! is posi-' tioned at the front portion of the top I 6. The center portion I4 and steering arm 2| are cooperatively joined to each other by bolt 23 which passes through the elongated openings in each ofthese members and is retained therein by nut 24. A rope 22 may be secured to the ends of the steering arm 2|.

The rear wheels construction may best be seen in Figure 7 which shows one of the rear Wheels 26 journaled within one of the frames 27. The frame 21 is pivoted on a caster pivot 28, the construction of which is not shown. It is well to point out that any type of bearing may be inserted within the caster pivot, although a ball bearing is preferred. Theimportant feature of this construction is to permit not only the rotation of the rear wheels 26, but also the pivoting of the frame 21 to which the rear wheel 26 is journaled. The rear wheel assembly is secured to the top ID through a plurality of bolts 29 and nuts 30.

A pair of brakes are secured to the sides of top Ill. The description of one brake will suflice since both brakes are constructed in the same manner. A bar 32 extends transversely of the top I0, and a clamp 33 secures the bar to the underside OI the frame I0. Brake members 3| are pivoted with respect to the bar 32. In order to prevent the brake members 3| from contacting the road surface at all times, a spring 34 is placed between two washers and tensioned against the side of the brake member 3I by nut 35 threaded upon bar 32.

The invention has been described in connection with a specific illustrated embodiment dis closing a definite arrangement of parts. However, it will be understood that changes may be made in the elements and in the arrangements of them without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and upon which I desire to secure Letters Patent is: 7

Means for bracing the front axle of a roller coaster of conventional design against transverse and rearward thrusts comprising a unitary axle brace having a top portion and three arms extending downwardly from said top portion, said arms being joined to the axle, and a second axle brace positioned transversely of and on the under side of and joined to the axle.

ANTON PFAU. 

